Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is common in Northern Europe, but rare in Asian countries like India, Japan and China. Caucasian IDDM is characterised by a high prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD65Ab), but it is still unclear if the appearance of these autoantibodies is strongly associated with IDDM in all ethnic groups. In this study, we have evaluated the prevalence of GAD65Ab in a population of IDDM patients (and their parents) from South India, using an immunoprecipitation assay with radiolabelled recombinant human GAD65. The prevalence of GAD65Ab (65/115; 57%) was significantly higher in IDDM patients than in a group of healthy controls (4/105; 4%) (p < 0.001). In IDDM patients with less than 10 yrs of disease duration, the prevalence of GAD65Ab was 61/101 (60%). GAD65Ab frequency was higher among female (33/50; 66%) than among male (32/65; 49%) patients, and lower in obese patients (BMI > 25) (1/8; 12%) than in patients with BMI < 25 (64/107; 60%) (p = 0.025). In parents of IDDM patients, GAD65Ab were found in 17/58 (29%) fathers and 12/60 (20%) mothers. A total of 10/17 (59%) GAD65Ab-positive fathers and 0/12 GAD65Ab-positive mothers had diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. In conclusion, the results of our study show that the prevalence of GAD65Ab in South Indian IDDM patients is not significantly different from that observed in Caucasians, and support the hypothesis that GAD65Ab are strongly associated with IDDM, irrespective of ethnic background. Furthermore, the occurrence of GAD65Ab in parents of South Indian IDDM patients also shows the presence of an ongoing islet autoimmunity in healthy first-degree relatives.
Prevalence of GAD65 autoantibodies in South Indian patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and in their parents
FALORNI, Alberto;
1997
Abstract
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is common in Northern Europe, but rare in Asian countries like India, Japan and China. Caucasian IDDM is characterised by a high prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD65Ab), but it is still unclear if the appearance of these autoantibodies is strongly associated with IDDM in all ethnic groups. In this study, we have evaluated the prevalence of GAD65Ab in a population of IDDM patients (and their parents) from South India, using an immunoprecipitation assay with radiolabelled recombinant human GAD65. The prevalence of GAD65Ab (65/115; 57%) was significantly higher in IDDM patients than in a group of healthy controls (4/105; 4%) (p < 0.001). In IDDM patients with less than 10 yrs of disease duration, the prevalence of GAD65Ab was 61/101 (60%). GAD65Ab frequency was higher among female (33/50; 66%) than among male (32/65; 49%) patients, and lower in obese patients (BMI > 25) (1/8; 12%) than in patients with BMI < 25 (64/107; 60%) (p = 0.025). In parents of IDDM patients, GAD65Ab were found in 17/58 (29%) fathers and 12/60 (20%) mothers. A total of 10/17 (59%) GAD65Ab-positive fathers and 0/12 GAD65Ab-positive mothers had diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. In conclusion, the results of our study show that the prevalence of GAD65Ab in South Indian IDDM patients is not significantly different from that observed in Caucasians, and support the hypothesis that GAD65Ab are strongly associated with IDDM, irrespective of ethnic background. Furthermore, the occurrence of GAD65Ab in parents of South Indian IDDM patients also shows the presence of an ongoing islet autoimmunity in healthy first-degree relatives.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
